I don't. It is just as labor-intensive and-
Posted By: see message on 2005-07-20
In Reply to: Does anyone have anything good to say about VR? - nm
you end up fixing things like changing "were" to "are", "a" to "an", that kind of thing. Easier in my opinion to type from scratch, not to mention that you are usually making half what a normal line rate is to do VR.
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But labor intensive. They never weigh the
operating costs either against what they are saving. And of course they do not realize that there will always be upgrades down the road to pay for.
High pay for labor-intensive work is not always better
I would make more money, taking less money, doing work that I really loved and could do in my sleep (figuratively) than taking more money to do work that really was not my preference and was very labor intensive (crazy hard dictators, a field that I might not be as proficient in - so spend a lot of time looking up things - VA or teaching hospitals for instance - with so many dictators and different "ills" that come into there - high pay is a must because its going to take a good bit of time to get your chops down) then I would rather take the lower pay and work I looked forward to.
Also its true - if they do not outsource the work - *and the client does not care who they use - just that its at X cpl* then it might be the only way the company can employ stateside help and still be profitable.
*shrug* I dunno - transcription is what it is. The whole thing has gone downhill *I know, dead horse beating* and I am not sure what is going to pull it out of the dumps.
But I do know I would rather do work I REALLY liked and get paid less and therefore make more money, than more money to do work I had to talk myself into wanting to do every day.
I mean - if you have your druthers. Often you do not and the work you get is the work you need to do, but its nice to have a choice, if you can.
Labor Stats from Dept of Labor for MT inside
This is quite interesting...it is too long to post here but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the statistics. Thanks!
tp://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:eGxrU1X5lOEJ:www.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm+how+much+to+become+certified+Medical+Transcription&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
It's a knowledge-intensive field which doesn't pay anywhere near enough..
Try an inhouse position for more intensive mentoring
I typed my first 3 years as an MT at a hospital and I found the mentoring I received from seasoned MTs, and being able to talk to the doctors and other staff, a really big plus. I also found it better when you're at the beginning of the learning curve to have an hourly position vs a production position.
You might want to consider inhouse as well to help you see the big picture as to why the doctors won't dictate more clearly, why nobody has the manpower to scruitinze every report, how sometimes the mistakes found in reports have been edited and put in there BY the doctors, and the low respect in general MTs get compared to the rest of the health professionals out there. This might help you gain some perspective as to some of the "whys".
You might ponder that MTSO's are not going to scold their clients to learn better dictation habits in order to make the MT's job easier - that would just alienate the client. Inhouse, should you personally want to scold the offending dictator, they will often laugh in your face and tell you to deal with it. In general, doctors do as they please and our jobs exist for their convenience, not the other way around.
What are you doing for labor day?
xxx
Not til the Wed. after Labor Day ...
here near Rochester, NY.
I am, too, wonder if it's just because of the Labor Day holiday?
nm
No, its cheap labor.
x
7 or even 7.5 cpl is slave labor
I had a company offer me 7.5 cents recently and I said no, perservered it out, and found a great company that pays 10 cents a line and they actually care about their MTs, not treat them like a number. Hold out for what you deserve to be paid and don't compromise. A company paying 7 cents is looking for slave labor.
Slave labor
... sounds like someone is on their high horse in a third world country and expects American MTs to get with the slave labor mentality!
You can also go to the Dept. of Labor. (n/m)
x
They use overseas labor.
.
Need labor union
After 20 years in this industry I can't wait to get out of it - early retirement here I come...They want to pay highly skilled translators (which is more what we do) at rate of a typist.
Labor Board
Forget the state - go to the Department of Labor on website - I had to, my company "borrowed" from my IRA and although I got my money, I did not get my interest, cap gains etc. The labor board is helping me now, including filing charges against them for bouncing checks etc. The problem is if no one complains when the check bounces not much you can do. Bounce a check at walmart and go to court possible jail- bounce a paycheck and do nothing if they send out another to you, doesn't matter when they do, just that they do. If it happens often, don't request a new check file charges and then get your money. They won't do it again.
What you doing over the Labor Day holiday?
Happy Labor Day!
Speaking of labor, I am working today. Anyone else working this holiday? 
If indeed more co. using China labor we need
x
Why would it cost $140? inc. labor?
you can do it yourself, it's easy. I doubled mine for about $60, but I think I got another 512 MB or so, then got I think a $20 rebate. I noticed the speed. It's easier to keep multiple programs running and loaded and properly functioning at one time. Multitasking is easier. My work computer is 256, tell me that doesn't suck! I spend half my day waiting, it seems.
Yep, that is labor also and you gotta know
I am dumb when it comes to computers and such. I would hate to really mess something up to where I could not work. I might have to have some memory removed in order to go to 1.5 but my computer will go to 2. Wonder if I should go for that much? thanks for the advice.
Labor Board
For those of you who are not getting paid (seems like an epidemic) report your employer to the labor board in your state. A word on Gant Transcription - this being a company who either does not pay or sends checks with insufficient funds - be wary of any advertisements here or on any other board - it's a bad deal - remember you are not working for free - and this company does not pay unless forced to. Don't fall into Gant's trap unless you like spending your days and nights working for nothing. If your company is not paying - keep all correspondence and report them immediately to your labor board - they will straighten things out. The BBB is not the way to go - they can do nothing to get your past wages to you - but the Wage and Labor Board can and will.
I am an IC so labor board can't help
I will be filing a small claims suit next. Unfortunately this company is in Midwest and I am on East Coast, so I am going to have to look into the logistics of it. Thanks.
Labor laws
I think there may be some strong labor laws against such behavior. State labor laws obviously vary, but even Federal Labor Laws should prevent this.
I hate to hear about collusion like this against a person, who possibly just had the temerity to disagree.
Quig
It is not manual labor...
just another excuse by you
Department of Labor
Were you awarded a judgment in your favor and how long it takes?
Try the Department of Labor and Industry.
You can turn them into the State Attorney General's office, BBB, FTC, as well. And small claims court. I would send a certified letter demanding payment first with the threat that if they do not pay by XX date, you will pursue further legal action against them.
So I am the one doing the labor and get 8 cpl. Frank and all the managers
need a little something-something for all their "hard" work. We MTs are so 
Turn them in to the BBB and the Department of Labor.
They're scamming people. Somebody needs to stop them before they hose over any other new MTs. Parents magazine even had an article about TranScam.
Slave labor, I agree
His $10 bid was probably from China (or the company which MT's are not allowed to talk about here anymore).
Labor laws in some states (particularly CA) SM
are more stringent and some of the nationals won't hire from certain states because their laws are stricter than federal labor laws.
check with the dept of labor...sm
they might be able to handle it for free
according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics . . .
"According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were a total of 97,810 medical transcriptionists working in the US in May 2003, the latest period for which data was available."
http://www.globaloutsourcing.org/content/Processes/2005/105010101.asp
This is a lie. Go look at the labor board website.
Funny to me what people ASSUME is covered by The Government! LOL
No, not take over. Increase international labor use? Yes.
owning a US company but using international labor.
Two words: LABOR BOARD.
.
Regarding US companies using overseas labor
Maybe we can start by not utilizing their services and getting the word out.
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/popups/exporting.america/content.html
Sweat shop labor
We can all clearly see the run around by various layers of quality control when work goes offshore, and what it really costs. But the thing is that as more and more corporations offshore their products, they are able to skirt strict regulations in the U.S. For instance, as we already see the advantage of India doing transcription while we sleep here in the US, they don't have labor laws as we do. A corporation here in the US dealing with American workers has to deal with lots of regulations such as labor laws, state compensation for injuries for employees, etc. These regulations cost money to the company. In countries like India, China, the Phillipines, there are no labor laws such as in the U.S. If a company says a worker must work 12 hours a day with no benefits or breaks, you can be sure these people will do this, and are sometimes grateful where no job existed before. If working conditions are intolerable, there is no agency that protects the people. You can see how American corporations are motivated to send work offshore and not deal with US regulations and laws that cost the company money. Yes, exploitation at its finest. However, I saw a documentary recently by Lisa Ling on TV where it showed that many women in third world countries are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with working conditions. The documentary followed different women and what they must do to have a job in the city. Many women leave their children far away in another city at home with the grandparents. These women travel and live in the city to work for a few dollars a day. They must work weekends, holidays, and may travel back home once a month to give the money they make to their families. These women were interviewed and were questioning whether having a job far away from a rural town was worth it with no time off for the holidays, and missing their children and families. So you see, these people are getting restless too, and want time off on their holidays and family time just as much as we do. I have no doubt in time there were be a rising in advocacy for labor laws in these countries.
Depends on state labor law where you are...
I live in a state where they have to have a reason, fully documented.
I have lived in states though that are called "right to work" which is probably a strange way to describe it, because they can fire you with no reason whatsoever whenever they feel like it.
But, were you fired or technically just laid off is the other question to answer.
Unfair labor practices
I'm an independent contractor and the company I work for is offering bonuses to some ICs, but not all. I know I could choose not work for them, but this is a pretty shady practice. I'm also routinely shorted on my pay, though they make it up the next month. I would like to do something about it if possible. Has anyone ever filed a complaint with EEO or Labor Relations for something like this? Thanks.
Two words: * LABOR BOARD * - nm
U.S. Labor Laws Don't Apply...
in India. Unfortunately , many countries don't have employee anti-discrimination laws. India seems to be one example. But , I have seen employment ads in the Philippines where they not only discriminate on the basis of age , but they do so on the basis of gender as well. Then there also issues of workplace health and safety (no O.S.H.A. there) as well.
Those who get these jobs there probably feel pretty fortunate , but we know better don't we?
Labor Board Denied
The Labor Board only deals with "Employer/Employee" situations. I only have and always only had Independent Contractors that I provide a 1099. She claimed to be an "employee". If you read up on the ABC and/or the 20-law factors of the IRS, you would understand more on this. She also claimed some other issues that did not involve the Labor Board as well. I have all the paperwork.
Need checks, not labor denial
The labor board only DENIED because it DOES NOT deal with this and not because she was INNOCENT. So I would want to see cancelled checks, front and back, signed and see what account they were deposited into for me to consider her innocent. Easy enough to prove. But if she proves that the labor board denied the claim that does nothing it just states that we don't deal with IC's and does not clear her at all. It is very simple, get copies of the checks front and back and then I guess you could ask the person who was supposedly have been paid to produce that month's bank statement showing that it either did not did not get deposited there. All the time she has spent arguing and defending herself, she could have proven herself innocent by now. This is one word against the other and one has to be right and they need to produce the proof.
child-labor laws.....sm
I'm wondering about third-world children who are being trained to learn MT for "their future," we all know they are quickly becoming home-based MTs. I'm sure parents and teachers are already drilling them on medical terminology in preparation to add to the family income. These are poor, desperate, countries who have always worked their children, this is not going to change. Will our child-labor laws apply to them, since they will be doing American work???
USdept of Labor - future of MT
They paint a pretty picture and I'm hoping that its true, but they should be the ones in the trenches! Enjoy http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm
check with the labor board. Would they pay you double
if they let you go without notice?
Report them to the Department of Labor and Industry and the BBB, too.
I can't stand it when pay is not received in a timely manner. It shows a complete lack of professionalism and inability to manage a business.
Turn them in immediately to the Department of Labor and
Industry, the BBB, the FTC, small claims court and anybody else that will listen. Contract or no contract, they CANNOT withhold pay due to giving no notice. ICs do not have to give notice. It was even on Judge Judy that you can't stiff somebody their pay for walking off the job.
Or maybe check with your state's labor department?
?
I think she means the labor inducing part. NM
NM
Need alternative to usual Labor Day cookout
We are having a family get-together on Labor Day. We usually grill hamburgers and hot dogs, but I was trying to think of something different this year. Any suggestions? There will be young kids there, so it would have to be something they could enjoy as well. Thanks!
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